Clothespin



. J v a a 2 a March 18 1924.

- R. H. ZIMMERMANN CLOTHESPIN' Filed Feb. 5, 1923 I 1?. zi z-m m li atented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES testes? RALPH H. ZIMMERMANN, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

CLOTHESPIN.

Application filed February 5, 1923. Serial No. 617,094.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH H. ZIMMER' MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothespins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes pins and has for an object the provision of a pin which may be readily adjusted for use and which will securely hold articles upon a line without the necessity of folding or doubling said article and without danger of damage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clothes pin of the usual character which carries a yieldable retaining means, the manner of attaching the retaining means I to the pin also affording a reinforcing means for the same, so as to prevent the pin from splitting.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a clothes pin constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the combined attaching and reinforcing means.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a clothes pin of the common wooden variety, which is provided atone end with an inwardly extending longitudinally disposed slot or kerf 11 so as to provide spaced legs 12, while at its opposite end the pin is provided with the usual head 13.

In carrying out the present invention, the pin is further provided with a longitudinal slot 14 which extends through one of the legs 12 and which is provided at one end with an enlarged portion 15. This slot 14 is provided for the reception of a spring retaining tongue which extends into the slot 11 for engagement with an article upon a line. This tongue is secured in place by an attaching means and for this purpose a single length of spring wire is bent intermediate its ends to provide spring loops 16, from one end of which extends a tongue 17. The loops 16 are positioned within the 'enlarged portion 15 of the slot 14, while the tongue 17 is positioned within said slot and is provided with an inwardly and transversely extending arm 18. This arm terminates in a curved substantially circular portion 19. The arm 18 extends through an opening formed in the body of the pin and the circular portion 19 extends around the pin and through the loops 16 and acts as a securing means for the spring tongue. In addition to serving as a securing means, the circular portion 19 also acts as a reinforcing means and prevents the clothes pin from splitting. 1

Theinvention is susceptible of various 7 changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to makesuch changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A clothes pin comprising a body provided at one end with a slot defining spaced legs upon opposite sides thereof, one of said legs being longitudinally slotted near its inner end and a combined reinforcing and retaining means encircling the body.

2. A clothes pin comprising a body slotted at one end to provide spaced legs, one of said legs being longitudinally slotted near its inner end and a spring tongue positioned within the last mentioned slot and means formed integral with and extending from the tongue around the pin body to hold the tongue in position and provide body reinforcing means.

3. A clothes pin comprising a body pro-' vided at one end with a slot defining spaced legs upon opposite sides thereof, one of said legs being longitudinally slotted near its inner end and a combined reinforcing and retaining means extending through and encircling the body.

4:. A clothes pin comprising a body slotted 5 at one end to provide spaced legs, one of said legs being longitudinally slotted near its inner end, a tongue positioned Within the last mentioned slot, a spring loop at the inner end of the tongue and retaining means extending through and encircling the body 10 and passing through the spring loop.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

RALPH H. ZIMMERMANN. 

